Cairo: During the opening session of the Third Global Conference on Health, Population, and Human Development, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), officially announced that the Arab Republic of Egypt is now free from trachoma as a public health problem.

According to State Information Service Egypt, in a recorded speech, Tedros extended his congratulations to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, describing the achievement as 'historic and a remarkable addition to Egypt's longstanding record of eliminating diseases.' He highlighted that this milestone was made possible through a comprehensive national strategy that included large-scale treatment campaigns targeting affected regions, improved environmental and health conditions, particularly in rural communities, and extensive public awareness programs aimed at disease prevention and early detection.

These coordinated national efforts led to a significant decline in trachoma infections, reducing prevalence to below 5% among children, which qualifies Egypt for official WHO certification as a country free from the disease as a public health concern. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, emphasized that this milestone marks 'a turning point in Egypt's public health journey,' reflecting the strength of international cooperation and the effectiveness of global health partnerships in achieving shared health goals.

Trachoma was once one of the leading causes of blindness in Egypt, making this declaration a major public health victory and a testament to the nation's sustained efforts in disease eradication and community health development.